NBT is welcoming staff and the public to find out about the work taking place to make the Trust more sustainable. They will be holding a launch event for their Sustainable Development Management Plan (SDMP) in the atrium of the Brunel Building at Southmead Hospital on Tuesday 2nd October from 11:00 – 14:00.

The annual SDMP outlines the progress made and how as an organisation they are embedding sustainable development.

The Trust has made great progress towards a regional climate change adaptation plan, and has delivered real financial benefits for the organisation from the re-use initiatives such as Warp-It, an innovative programme to recycle wheelchairs and the decision to assess the sustainability impacts of all capital projects over £100,000.

The health and wellbeing of staff working for the Trust is a continuing priority. In the past year NBT has seen the social and environmental benefits of a number of initiatives (e.g. the herb garden, the lavender project, staff lunchtime walks) and numerous TravelSmart schemes promoting active travel (such as road shows, bike maintenance sessions, staff bike loans).

Looking forward to 2018/19, North Bristol Trust plans to build on this year’s success, expanding on their staff health and wellbeing programme to deliver exciting projects such as a staff and patient allotment, green gym and pathway to wellbeing map. They are also taking significant steps to drive forward energy reductions through investment in their carbon abatement programme.

The Trust has also been recently nominated in 3 categories for the Sustainable Health and Care Awards. The categories were Green Space, Travel and Logistics, and Sustainable Healthcare Leader of the Year, with Tricia Down, Head of Sustainable Health and Capital Planning for the Trust receiving the nomination for the latter.

Simon Wood, Director of Facilities, said: “The SDMP launch event at Southmead Hospital is aimed at raising awareness about the links between health and sustainability and engaging and enthusing patients, visitors and members of staff on what we are doing to embed sustainable development and what they can do to help”.

Alongside the launch event in the Brunel building, there will be a showcase from 11:00 – 14:00 from Children’s Scrapstore, demonstrating how plastic waste from theatres has been recycled into artwork.